TomTom introduces High Definition Traffic

TomTom just lit up its High Definition Traffic, premium traffic service in The Netherlands.

Announced in parallel is the ONE XL HD Traffic navigator, for what’s a traffic service without a GPS device to take advantage of it? The ONE XL HD Traffic shares the same 4.3-inch LCD of its ONE XL brethren only now with the addition of 1GB of built-in storage and a new SIM card (no activation or configuration required) for live traffic data feeds over Vodafone’s GSM network.

Traffic information collected anonymously from Dutch Vodafone mobile phones and third party traffic authorities is updated every 3 minutes — that’s 5x the traffic updates and 10x the road coverage of typical traffic systems according to TomTom. Available in TomTom’s home country of The Netherlands this month for €399, including a one year HD Traffic subscription renewable for €9.95/month.

An HD Traffic accessory for existing TomTom products will be available in early 2008.

• More info at TomTom’s website
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Google gives birth to an android

It really looks like we can pick up your  Google-powered phone in the latter half of 2008.

At its core, Android forms the basis for Google’s operating system and supporting software for phones.

Android will deliver a complete set of software for mobile devices: an operating system, middleware and key mobile applications.

On November 12, Google/Android will release an early look at the Android Software Development Kit (SDK) to allow developers to build rich mobile applications.

Check out the Open Handset Alliance website.